[0:00] Okay, I'd like to welcome everybody to
the uh September 3rd meeting of the town
[0:03] board of the town of Southeast. If we
could rise for the pledge of allegiance.
[0:07] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[0:12] republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[0:17] justice for all.
[0:21] » Thank you. If I can remind everybody of
the exits, there's two exits in the back
[0:24] of the room and one exit up here to the
left of of uh of us. Um, and with that,
[0:30] if everybody could either uh turn off
their cell phones or come on vibrate,
[0:34] that would be great. And I ask the clerk
for roll call.
[0:38] » Yes.
>> Councilman Cypress
[0:41] » here.
>> Councilman Larka
[0:42] » here.
>> Councilwoman Lewis
[0:44] » here. Councilman Mazada
>> here.
[0:47] » Supervisor Castellano
>> present. Thank you.
[0:49] » Thank you.
>> I'll make a motion to come out of
[0:51] executive session. No action was taken.
>> Second.
[0:54] » Thank you. All in favor?
>> I. Going on to our work session. We have
[0:59] a discussion tonight agricultural
districts and I'm turn it over to
[1:02] Councilman Marca.
>> Yeah. Um is Cassandra is that would you
[1:07] mind coming up or do you want me to just
go through a few things? Um so uh thank
[1:12] you for coming. Um we've had this on the
agenda a lot. There's been a lot of back
[1:16] and forth uh between us and the a board
and the county. Um the concerns all
[1:22] started we we get complaints about some
of the properties in the a district and
[1:27] um we were under the impression that we
couldn't do anything with those
[1:30] complaints. Um and we really don't have
a a say in the approval and then we kind
[1:36] of found out that we could do that. Um
our our ask was that neighboring
[1:41] properties be notified if an if a
property owner made an application to
[1:45] the egg district. So at least they would
be aware that um that property may get
[1:50] some protections. And throughout the
back and forth it seemed like there
[1:54] really aren't any protections. However,
they do have an escalation process as
[2:00] being part of the egg board where they
can um uh get uh the state to determine
[2:05] that one of our codes is unreasonable,
which would help them. Um in terms of
[2:11] the public notice process, it it I still
don't can't wrap my head around that
[2:16] answer, but what we uh it sounded like
the county didn't want to do it. The a
[2:20] board doesn't have to do it, but we sent
notification to those neighboring
[2:24] properties just as a heads up. um a
little bit later than I would have liked
[2:27] to have done that. Um so I'm I'm really
glad you came. There's a few questions
[2:34] uh because there is some confusion that
I'd like to ask. Um and so I'll just
[2:39] start with the first one. So can you
tell us a little bit about the a
[2:42] district a board soil water uh board and
what you guys do? And
[2:47] » that is perfect. So I was about to say
well I'm done here. You've answered
[2:50] everything for everybody and [laughter]
I'm going to go home. Um, so it's really
[2:55] also I have to say I'm used to
legislature meetings where executive
[2:58] session is never in the beginning and
always forever and uh anything soil and
[3:02] water and a is always last. So thank
you. Um not that that
[3:06] [clears throat and snorts] was done
intentionally but it is much
[3:07] appreciated.
>> Always intentional
[3:09] » super thankful for that. Um but uh yeah
and so again to the concerns that you've
[3:14] had and I think that's the broader
thing. Um you know we discussed there's
[3:17] been lots of emails and I I think the
town board was copied on them so whether
[3:21] you read through all of them it was a
lot. Um, and I think the basis of it is
[3:25] there's always been a misconception um,
you know, from municipalities and from
[3:30] land owners that like once you're an a
district, you can do anything you want
[3:33] to. Um, and and that would be terrible
because you guys have to deal with not
[3:36] only complaints about, you know,
agricultural properties, but you got to
[3:39] deal complaints about everything, right?
And so to hear, oh, we can't do anything
[3:44] about that. That obviously is not
something that, you know, a town would
[3:46] want to hear because how do you tell
your residents? Um, so that is a good
[3:51] point to clear up that you do have the
authority like the a district program.
[3:55] So I guess I'll start with that. The a
district program is supposed to create a
[3:58] mediation in between. So there's state
agriculture protections for agricultural
[4:02] practices. That doesn't mean if you're a
farm, you can do anything you want to.
[4:06] It is a case-byase review. If you're in
the a district, a municipality can reach
[4:11] out for a specific practice. Say
somebody comes to you and complains and
[4:15] says, "I don't like this." you or the
land owner or both could reach out. It's
[4:20] called a 305A review for the exact
practice on that exact farm for that
[4:23] exact instance and then the agon markets
would guide you and say reasonable
[4:27] unreasonable and they give you an idea
of like okay you want to do this does it
[4:30] impact public health and safety that is
the big thing where if it impacts public
[4:34] health and safety no farm wins right
that is across the board if it's in
[4:39] instances of certain fees certain
regulations certain things like that the
[4:43] state may say no they may say work with
them they may say different things but
[4:47] that's something that the state has
statuto criteria of what is permissible
[4:51] for a versus regular properties keeping
in mind there's a state constitutional
[4:55] right to farm and they kept that in mind
knowing there would be development
[4:58] pressures over the years which there
were um so it's not something that a lot
[5:02] of people think you get in and you can
do anything you want to you still and I
[5:06] cannot say this enough I've said it
everywhere they quoted in a paper
[5:08] finally it took years all farms must
follow all local laws all the time now
[5:14] the caveat to that is if you have
overburdensome laws on your books that
[5:18] are in controvention to the state
statute. That's where Agon markets would
[5:21] come in and say, "Hey, maybe you should
relook at this. Is there a way that you
[5:24] can come to an agreement?"
>> And Agon Markets is the state
[5:29] organization, not your board, right?
>> No. So the state, Agon Markets, right?
[5:33] They're the ones that are the decision
makers, the mediators, if there are
[5:37] concerns. Um, anybody whether they're in
the act district or not, like a town can
[5:41] solicit an opinion from Agon Markets on
anything. You can email them, you can
[5:45] call them, they'll ask you. They have
counsel. They have a number of people in
[5:48] their staffs. They can answer any
question. If you want a formal opinion,
[5:51] anybody can do that. Any member of the
public, any land owner, anybody. If
[5:55] you're in the A district, that's when
you can solicit a 305A review, which is
[5:59] on a specific agricultural practice at a
specific farm, and they go case by case.
[6:04] They talk to the town, they talk to the
landowner, and they work with you
[6:07] through there. So, that's only if you're
in the A district. The A district
[6:11] technically is a state program, but it
is administered locally by the counties.
[6:15] And the reason they did that was
counties can opt in or choose not to opt
[6:19] in. Putnham County back [clears throat]
in 1997 chose to I'm sorry, 2003 chose
[6:23] to opt in. Now, since 2003, I think from
2003 to probably 2015, everything was
[6:29] cool. Everybody was fine. There wasn't
any problems. Um and I think a part of
[6:33] it is we get to so [clears throat] the
county is who administers the a district
[6:38] program includes parcels or removes
parcels at the county level that keeps
[6:42] the component of home rule without it
being town by town right um but to that
[6:47] end you have a farmland protection board
so that is the um it's the a and
[6:52] farmland protection board that was
established before the districts in 1997
[6:57] that is an advisory board we can tell
the legislature all we want to they
[7:00] don't have to
Um so that is something where you saw
[7:03] the farm protection plan the last time
that was done was 2004 long time ago
[7:08] hasn't been updated. Um problem with
that is as an advisory board to the
[7:12] legislature we have no the a board has
no authority. Um I buy my role in soil
[7:17] and water which I'll get to in a second.
I have an ex official seat on the a
[7:21] board. So there is uh soil and water
there is the tax commissioner rail
[7:25] property and tax there is the planning
commissioner for the county a
[7:28] representative from Cornell and then it
is six uh practical farmers there's
[7:32] different breakdown of those that
doesn't matter I won't bore you with
[7:35] that but it's to give you a basis of
land use for planning for tax for you
[7:40] know different government seats there's
also a legislative representative to
[7:43] that board as well and that depends the
legislature appoints all of those people
[7:47] and that's what guides them in what do
we do how do we you know do educational
[7:52] programs. So there is in the farmland
protection plan from 2004 the a board
[7:57] was tasked with doing that. What I will
say is that uh try to happen a few times
[8:02] in the last few years and people were
removed from the board. Um and that's
[8:06] just the way it went. So a lot of people
just stopped answering emails because
[8:09] why would you answer an email and you
could get thrown off a volunteer board.
[8:12] Enter soil and water. Um so water
conservation district was established in
[8:17] 1966 in Putham County. We were the
second to last uh county to get in. But
[8:22] we are an independent municipality.
Where that veered is in 1993. Um it
[8:28] ended up getting absorbed into county
government which meant that the soil and
[8:31] water district could no longer be
independent for conservation and its own
[8:35] independent voice. Our only role is soil
and water conservation. That's it. We're
[8:41] not any county policy. We do not speak
on behalf of the county. We speak on
[8:44] behalf of the science and the
conservation. That's why I'm here. I
[8:49] can't be thrown off the board. I can't
be thrown off the board. It is very
[8:52] specific in soil and water law. It is
I'm appointed by the legislature as our
[8:55] other board members are. There is a farm
bureau representative. There is a
[8:59] graange representative, a uh standard
land owner at large and two legislators.
[9:05] And then we are supposed to take on
conservation programs and education
[9:09] outreach. We do have a grant program
that you guys are all going to get
[9:12] emailed and I hope you talk about it.
Um, we'll probably send somebody else
[9:14] from our board next month uh to [snorts]
go over that because it's about $180,000
[9:19] in grants for not only municipalities
but lakes a and [snorts] uh conservation
[9:24] education assistance. So that's that's a
big chunk for the local community. Um we
[9:28] were never able to do that because we
were part of the county. We couldn't
[9:30] educate anybody and alleviate any of the
concerns because we were part of the
[9:33] county. Um so that is the role in it and
the way the act district process for
[9:38] inclusion works is it is a set time
frame. the process is established by the
[9:43] state. So, I know there was conversation
back and forth of we don't have enough
[9:47] time and and you know, how do we notify
people? It's the same time every year.
[9:52] April 1st to April 30th is the date
where people um can submit their
[9:56] applications to the ACT board. So, at
that point, you wouldn't really know
[9:59] what's happening. You don't know who's
applying. Then the month of May, if you
[10:02] ever wanted to watch the A board
meetings, you can certainly do that. You
[10:06] can come to the Aboard meetings. You'll
know who is being taken in. That is when
[10:09] the A board goes out and does site
visits. Um the A district can be an open
[10:14] vacant parcel that just aids in the
viability of agriculture and open space.
[10:18] Putnham County has chosen it must be a
farm. I don't love that, but I don't
[10:23] fight it. You know, if it's a farm, then
obviously that fits in the a district as
[10:27] as narrowly as Putnham County wants to
define it. So
[10:31] with that, you have April 1 to April 30.
You have May one to the end of May and
[10:35] then June it typically goes to physical
services which is the legislative
[10:39] committee. Once it comes out of there it
goes to the full
[10:42] » uh uh sorry if I can I interrupt you
along the way cuz I have a bunch of
[10:46] questions for the timeline. Um when does
the town I think we got a little bit
[10:51] late this year?
>> Not really. Um and that's the other
[10:54] thing. So technically under the state
law there's no requirement to do that
[10:58] besides the public hearing. The public
hearing is supposed to from, you know,
[11:02] the state's perspective be the time
where everybody finds out. It goes in
[11:05] the local paper. It goes on the
legislative website. That is the mandate
[11:09] for the notification.
>> And that public hearing is the same
[11:13] night they voted.
>> Yes.
[11:15] » Yeah. I mean, well, that I,
>> you know, but that is the way the
[11:18] statutory process is laid out. So, what
Putham County has done is reached out
[11:22] prior and said, "Hey, this is an FYI of
who's applying." Now, that has become a
[11:26] problem in the past because you have
certain [snorts] things where it's a
[11:29] little bit unfair where if you say
you're just going to do something at
[11:33] your house versus you're going to apply
to the A district, somebody's now
[11:36] snooping through all of your stuff. Now,
it's not to say you can't enforce those
[11:38] things all year round. But if in the
month of April a properties get a bunch
[11:42] of violations, that seems a little
unfair and that could put, you know, a
[11:45] town in jeopardy of well, why did you do
this to me versus somebody else? So,
[11:49] there has been a concern on that. Now,
they do notify the towns and just say,
[11:52] "Hey, this is what's going on." At that
point, you talked to a markets council.
[11:57] They said, "You're free to do whatever
you wish. You can notify, you can choose
[12:00] not to notify. It's up to the county
>> for the for the town notification."
[12:05] Uh, I thought I thought, and maybe it's
the county or I'm not sure what was
[12:09] required, but I thought we were supposed
to get around the beginning of May, but
[12:12] we didn't get it till the middle of May.
And maybe that's not true, but when
[12:15] should we expect to get the
notification? That's not even required.
[12:19] » But it it's not required, but it's
>> but PM County has chosen to do that. So
[12:24] traditionally
>> to do it. So when
[12:26] » the reason why is because the
applications can come in up until the
[12:30] last day of April, right? So I think
this year everybody got it May 8th.
[12:35] » So
>> I don't send those notifications. That
[12:36] is commissioner planning.
>> Okay. So, we as a town, [snorts] and I I
[12:40] hear what you're saying that it's not,
you know, required by law, but we as a
[12:44] town should expect to get a notification
of applications sometime the beginning
[12:48] of May.
>> I don't even want to confidently say
[12:50] that because I don't make county policy.
They did that this year. I don't know.
[12:53] that's not anywhere written in stone
that they have to
[12:56] » so that we can
>> so I would say watch the a board meeting
[12:59] in April or in May and then you will
know who's applying unequivocally
[13:05] because right now it is not written
anywhere that anybody has to and the
[13:07] state's never going to mandate it. So if
you want to be aware I've told this to
[13:11] other towns it's April and it's May. Um
>> so are you saying that next year the
[13:16] town may not get the notification that
it got this year?
[13:18] » I'm not saying that. that I'm saying I
can't guarantee they will because it's
[13:21] nothing that's required in any statute.
>> And is it the and you may not know the
[13:25] answer and that's fine. But is it the
county who determines if that's required
[13:29] or not?
>> So that's the thing. The a board is the
[13:31] advisory board to the legislature. The
county makes the policy. Now from what I
[13:36] saw in the emails, and I'm not going to
speak on behalf of the county, but based
[13:38] on the emails, it was the county is
going to do their statutory obligation.
[13:42] Full stop. Um, not to say that the, you
know, Southeast or any town can't go and
[13:48] determine more and find out more. But,
you know, I can't speak on behalf of the
[13:52] county. I can just tell you what is
there. I know what is guaranteed and I
[13:55] know, you know, what has been a standard
practice, but I don't want to tell you
[13:59] to always expect that and then next year
it doesn't happen and you're like, what
[14:02] did this lady say?
>> Yeah. And this isn't on you, but I'm
[14:04] just to the board real quick. It sounds
like
[14:06] » she's the only one who was willing to
engage with us.
[14:08] » Yeah. Thanks for
>> This is me every time. So, yep.
[14:11] » But for it sounds like the county is
doing us almost like a courtesy notice
[14:16] » and all we've asked for and this
>> is more notice
[14:18] » is just to tell the property neighbors
which we're told they can't do because
[14:21] it's not required but what they're doing
today is not required in their
[14:24] » right. I I never took it as they can't
and that was my issue with all that back
[14:28] and forth and I wish that our
legislators could have just responded
[14:32] when we asked a year ago but you know
this this we spend more in legal fees
[14:36] writing emails on both sides but um no
one argued that the county is not doing
[14:43] the minimum required by law. We just
said, "Hey, you just wanted more."
[14:47] » In transparency and participation, mail
a letter for us, you know.
[14:51] » Yeah.
>> And that's how and then it just got
[14:53] » I have a lot of things where if a lot of
things went differently, I wouldn't be
[14:56] here tonight. Um I wouldn't be the chair
of the soil and water district if things
[15:00] went the way they were supposed to go
all the time. Um so that was our hope. I
[15:03] mean, I'll tell you two years ago, I
didn't know what a soil water district
[15:05] was.
>> I had no idea. Now we've actually taken
[15:08] it out of the county, went independent.
We now have an $180,000 grant program in
[15:12] less than, you know, a year and a half.
um there is a a void of education and I
[15:16] think again I don't want to speak for
the county but my my assumption with
[15:20] that is you know with any government do
you want to say you're going to do
[15:23] something you're not responsible to do
and in case you mess it up is that on
[15:28] you you know that's a liability thing
that's something to again you spoke with
[15:31] legislative council you spoke with a
markets council they said you you're
[15:34] welcome to do that um you know another
thing is the aboard has an email you
[15:38] could on May 1st email the a board and
say what are the southeast uh applicants
[15:42] » okay
>> you Oh, and and again, I'm not saying
[15:44] you're right, wrong, and different, but
I'm saying standard practice is what it
[15:47] is, but prescribed practice is
completely different,
[15:50] » right? And this is helpful. I appreciate
the, you know, conversation, but um I
[15:56] just have a few more questions. I cut
you off. Were you done? I I cut you off
[15:59] that question.
um the getting into the A district is
[16:05] separate and has different parameters
than um I don't know what it is but to
[16:10] get the A exemption on your taxes
>> totally different program
[16:14] » I understand that but I want to make
sure a lot of people think that they
[16:17] apply for that to get tax benefit yeah
>> and the question that I've asked myself
[16:22] during this whole back and forth was
what is the benefit why would somebody
[16:29] apply to to the A board if it doesn't
I'm sorry to the A to become part of the
[16:34] A district if it doesn't provide any
protections or financial benefits.
[16:38] » It provides you a mediator without
having to spend legal fees.
[16:42] » That really is what it is, you know. Um
and it's again not to say I can come in
[16:46] and do anything I want to, but
>> a regular standard farmer traditionally
[16:50] is just busy farming. They don't know,
you know, what things are allowed for a
[16:54] and what aren't. You know, they're just
going to go do permitting stuff. And the
[16:57] act district was created to give kind of
I don't want to say a voice but to give
[17:01] representation to legitimate
agricultural practices which just
[17:05] because someone's in the district I need
to be very clear about this. Putting
[17:07] county chooses who gets in right and
they make that determination again they
[17:12] could include vacant parcels of land
they don't. Bless you. Um they don't.
[17:16] But if it's a farm operation that is not
a legitimate robust farm operation or
[17:21] their particular a practice isn't
something the Agon market says is an a
[17:25] practice they'll tell the town go at it
you know do what you want.
[17:30] » So just getting in the a district
doesn't even mean that when they go up
[17:33] to a market and say I need help
>> that they will get that help. They may
[17:37] say you're you're not enough. So the
benefit for a for a farmer for farm
[17:42] operations to get the support where
there can be that intergovernment
[17:46] without having to pay a lawyer to then
go why are you guys doing this to me is
[17:50] this allowed and to you know get kind of
pushed out economically from the area.
[17:54] You know, I've asked that question so
many times when I was on the legislature
[17:57] and I think this is the first time I've
actually gotten an answer on I know this
[18:00] is why I'm here. I appreciate that was I
I asked that question over and over.
[18:04] » Like why would you want to,
>> right? But now I understand
[18:07] » and most farmers have no idea. Like I'll
tell you the farm that I work with um
[18:12] they had no idea when they applied what
the act district was. They thought it
[18:14] was like a USDA stamp. I mean look who
we are now. I'm the chair of the
[18:17] district. Um but it was because nobody
could answer the question of what is the
[18:21] benefit. it there is eminent domain
protections. Um so that's a big thing
[18:25] for farmers because they can get
squeezed out pretty quickly. Um there
[18:28] are you know just standard things that
it again if it's uh threatens public
[18:33] health or safety game over.
>> What about Well, and this is more this
[18:39] is a discussion about a district in
total like don't think that all of these
[18:42] questions are aimed at you or you have
to answer.
[18:44] » Yeah. No, I'm just the a district person
that says stuff so it's fine. Um,
[18:48] » I have zoning unless you're if you're
switching topics, I want to ask her a
[18:52] question. If you're not switching, we're
good.
[18:54] » Um, what topic were [laughter]
>> Well, she was talking about the zoning
[18:58] protection. So, I just want to say go
ahead. I've got [clears throat]
[19:01] » um and and at the end I'm going to ask
you a question that you might not be
[19:05] comfortable answering, but but bear with
me. So, at a recent county ledge
[19:10] meeting, multiple legislators said
multiple times, and you said something
[19:15] similar, that, you know, town should
just enforce all their their zoning
[19:18] codes. Um,
some property owners feel like they have
[19:23] built-in protection. Um, we've spoken to
consultants and some have said, "Maybe
[19:29] you should back off on this, maybe you
shouldn't." Like
[19:33] it feels like what you're saying is if
we think our zoning codes are good, we
[19:39] should enforce them and let them follow
the mediation procedure.
[19:43] » Y that's
>> Now there's another bonus that I'll
[19:46] share with you is there is a grant
program. I think it's about $25,000 that
[19:50] Agon Markets um offers to municipalities
as a review of your local zoning um to
[19:55] see is it is it going to pass muster?
Are you going to be doing mediations
[19:58] with a markets all the time? um you know
that's an option that you can do but
[20:02] it's something that's a grant everybody
loves grants right um and it gives you
[20:05] an ability to get a fresh set of eyes of
like okay here is and they're not going
[20:08] to tell you you can or can't do this you
hire an independent consultant um and
[20:12] [music] it is you know you got go
through with agon markets and and
[20:15] they're familiar with that so they can
say here's where you're going to have
[20:17] problems down the road you can choose to
keep whatever you want when someone is
[20:21] in the district that is a difference now
standardly there's certain protections I
[20:24] know there's certain towns that have
right to farm code and laws and things
[20:27] like that and that's great um you know
it's your choice to enforce what you
[20:30] would like to. And if you say, "Okay,
they're in the a district." You have a
[20:34] little bit more backup when a land owner
goes, "Well, why are you not doing it to
[20:37] them or like, okay, because a legitimate
a practice based on, you know, the
[20:40] Clinton County Agricultural District,
that doesn't mean that you can't do that
[20:44] to a regular farm that's not in the egg
district." There's a lot of farms that
[20:46] refuse to apply. And I get it. um you
know
[20:51] » I have I so the mediation process though
and here's where my mind goes it really
[20:56] is up to their interpretation of what
our code is. So if they
[21:03] » and on the practice itself
[clears throat]
[21:05] » yeah so that that could I think that may
be where that shade of gray lies. It
[21:11] really is. So, it, you know, they feel
like, well, you know, all of these codes
[21:17] are unreasonable, then it really is a
free-for-all.
[21:20] » Well, welcome to courts and lawyers,
right? Everybody reads the law a little
[21:23] bit differently. Um,
>> you know, if it if it's a a a noise
[21:28] violation, they can interpret that.
Well, you know,
[21:31] » well, it depends because, and again, I
don't want to go down the wormhole
[21:33] there,
>> right? I don't want to go down noise
[21:35] that is, you know, if you're operating
your tractor after standard hours,
[21:38] things like that. There are certain
things that you can look up for
[21:40] standard, you know, like
>> that is something that is a 305A review.
[21:43] That's something that is gray and so you
know what you should ask a markets
[21:46] because they're going to be the ones
instead of the tow making that decision.
[21:49] » Well, I think I see it as you know
here's here's like noise, odor, um,
[21:55] property maintenance standards. I it's
I'm of the opinion that we should not
[22:00] care, look, research or even acknowledge
whether a property is a farm or not if
[22:05] they're not following our zoning codes.
We treat them the same as we would my
[22:10] house or any other house in town.
>> Say, let's say we write up a property
[22:14] for property maintenance. You know,
they're not doing the right thing. Let's
[22:18] say my house and the house next to me
property maintenance. They're in the a
[22:21] district. I'm not um
>> I think they were in the district should
[22:26] have to go to the a board and you know
mediate, right? That's that's
[22:29] » well so they would have to go to a and
markets to mediate, right? And that's
[22:33] the thing. So that's your choice. You
can choose to have them do that. it it
[22:37] would almost seem um uh unequal
enforcement if we looked at that
[22:42] property special and right that's and if
we if that property is special then it
[22:48] should be the neighbors should be
notified specifically like they would a
[22:52] fence or shed because those people um
>> are directly impacted by like a zoning
[22:58] you know change or anything like that
and you know let me give an example
[23:01] again this is discussion don't think
it's directed at you but Star Ridge
[23:06] We've asked the county to have a public
notice sent to neighbors as part of any
[23:10] other zoning application that we get. I
know it's not a zoning change. Um we did
[23:15] that our on our own because we were
getting complaints. There was a farm on
[23:18] Star Ridge and I watched the public
hearing and everything and that person I
[23:22] think they hired an attorney who came
and they read all this stuff against it.
[23:26] Um and I believe, don't quote me on
this, but the owner of the property got
[23:30] up and said, "Hey, I want to work with
you. I wish we're having this discussion
[23:34] on our back porch instead of right here
right now. And if what we had asked for
[23:39] a year ago to send that letter in May
happened, they could have had that
[23:43] discussion
>> and we're back to not my role and talk
[23:46] to legislator.
>> Right. Right. I'm venting and and I
[23:48] think this is something we have to
[snorts] go to the county with. But
[23:51] that's a perfect example where those
neighbors, you know, could have broken
[23:55] bread and and uh not had an issue and
had an understanding. So
[23:58] » and five minutes later they voted. So
they couldn't even have an opportunity
[24:02] to work through it.
>> And I think in a education program, so
[24:05] you know, we had gone back and forth and
had said our district again because we
[24:08] have that ability, you know, we're going
to bring it to the A board and see if
[24:11] they want to, you know, sign on to it as
well. Our district's doing it no matter
[24:14] what because what happens is nobody says
anything and then everybody's hair's on
[24:17] fire and everybody's mad at everybody.
So our district is going to put together
[24:20] an act district program which is for
municipalities, which is for land owners
[24:24] as well. And you know, hopefully we can
get we give them food, right? people
[24:28] will show up hopefully to be able to
kind of dispel a lot of you know when
[24:32] they see that notification they're not
like oh my god you know like what's
[24:35] going to happen they're not changing
what they're doing they're doing what
[24:37] they were doing yesterday and that's
what we're going to be evaluating them
[24:40] on into getting into the act district
>> well I I think it changes a bit there
[24:44] and like let me read something I'm not
going to say who it was but this was on
[24:48] this was out recently and it's from a
farm and it says the problem has been
[24:53] neighbors and town officials thinking
our farm activities are against town
[24:58] code when in fact they are protected by
the state a law.
[25:01] » I am not going to weigh in on this in
the least. Uh I will go back to a
[25:05] assessments uh and why taxes are
different because again I again I do not
[25:10] that is not my role. I know to stay in
my lane
[25:12] » right but my point is not only you know
throughout this whole conversation I'm
[25:17] on town board so a lot of that was
directed at me and I was fighting it
[25:20] sounded very much like that
>> that uh I don't understand it the towns
[25:23] don't understand it. I don't think the
farmers understand it and I know
[25:28] » I think everybody has a different
understanding because it's a it's a
[25:31] different way to read a law and I think
the majority point here is you know you
[25:35] guys want the legislature to put out a
notice that they're not required to do.
[25:39] They're like hey you guys do whatever
you would like to do.
[25:42] » There's got to be compromise for
everybody. Right.
[25:44] » Yeah. There's two things that and now we
have a better understanding and I'm
[25:48] strongly of the opinion I'll say this
you know on the record if I get in
[25:50] trouble whatever but we have to do equal
enforcement and um whether it's in the
[25:56] district or not and the properties in
the district they apply to the district
[26:01] so that they have mediation support so
that they can escalate it and say hey
[26:05] this is this is preventing me from doing
what I want to do is it or is it not
[26:10] unreasonable if it's unreasonable they
would come back to us and say hey
[26:13] they're allowed to do this and then know
we've done what we can do.
[26:17] » Yeah. And I I I think that's fine. I
think like that's why you can choose to
[26:20] do the grant where you look over your
zoning and say, "How many 305 reviews do
[26:23] we want in Southeast?" You know, you can
choose to see how much paperwork you
[26:27] want. But
>> the complaints that we get, I think, are
[26:30] reasonable. If if my neighbor came in,
put a farm in, and then had roosters all
[26:35] night running their tractor, you know,
in the middle of the morning, you know,
[26:38] creating a nuisance for me as a property
owner, I'd be upset. Yeah, that's that's
[26:43] my concern. All I will say is again that
is a question for a and markets but
[26:47] those sound like events are one thing
right
[26:49] » but animals and agriculture if they have
a legitimate farm practice that is the
[26:53] reason for the a district to go okay
what can we reasonably talk about so
[26:58] » before going down that full I feel the
this is one guy this is a different guy
[27:02] that emailed and all of the angst I do
get that but that is I am not weighing
[27:05] in on that I have learned this uh from
day one knowing it's not in my lane I'm
[27:10] not doing it I will gladly what I will
say is I'm not going to go ear muffs.
[27:14] I'm not talking about anything. If you
have specific questions, you can reach
[27:17] out to the district. We can then find
out, you know, and be the intermaria for
[27:21] you guys. If you guys don't want to
reach out to Agon Markets, um you don't
[27:24] have to wait till it gets to 305A review
where it's a legitimate specific thing.
[27:28] You can call Agon Markets, you can call
Agon Markets Council, you can reach out
[27:32] to either the A board or soil and water
district and then we can reach out for
[27:36] you. Yeah, I I think the burden of uh
fighting it shouldn't be on the town,
[27:43] but um but anyway, that that's
>> But here we are, right?
[27:46] » Here we are.
>> Yeah. I you know, that's I I mean, we
[27:49] shouldn't have to do research to say hm
do we want to write up this violation or
[27:53] not based on its um um designation
um
[27:57] » on a assessment versus the other because
I will say some people think that people
[28:02] get into the A district because they
know of these protections. Half the
[28:05] people don't. Half the people don't.
Then everyone makes such a big deal of
[28:08] it. They're like, "Oh my god, I got
predictions." Um,
[28:10] » we had a property recently in town
um that got written up because they were
[28:17] they were farming had all this
>> they weren't within the town codes. I'll
[28:21] say that.
>> We are doing a specific thing again and
[28:23] I'm trying to get to taxes.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. What? I'm trying to not
[28:27] do the specific items because I
>> I thought you said that people um go get
[28:30] into it because
>> I said not all people go into the
[28:33] district even knowing what the district
is. So I wanted to clarify that there's
[28:36] a a conception that everyone who applies
to the district knows what the district
[28:40] is. Sometimes it's just I'm USDA. I
signed up with Cornell a district seems
[28:44] like the bonafites for my farm. Well,
what I was saying is in this town there
[28:48] have been people that got in trouble and
then they applied to the a district so
[28:52] they could do what they wanted to do and
not abide by our zoning
[28:56] » and then they'll take up a 305A review
of a markets and everything will sort
[28:59] itself out.
>> Um and that's again so just because
[29:02] you're in the a district does not mean
that a markets will protect every
[29:05] activity, every event, every sound,
every noise, every everything. But there
[29:10] are going to be certain things for
legitimate farming of, you know, hours
[29:13] of operation because, you know, farmers
have to farm a lot more and do a lot
[29:18] more longer work hours than the rest of
us. So, a assessment because I'm going
[29:22] to get out of this wormhole you're
putting me in. Um, a assessment versus
[29:25] the A district, completely unrelated.
You can be in the A district and never
[29:29] get a tax benefit. You can get a tax
benefit and never be in the A district.
[29:33] And it happens a lot. Um there is a
monetary threshold to be to get an a
[29:40] assessment in the state. There's a
monetary threshold. There's a minimum
[29:43] horse uh number that varies from
breeding to uh boarding to everything
[29:47] else. So I'm not going to go into that.
I'll let your tax person do that.
[29:50] [snorts] Um but there that is a
assessment. There is a minimum threshold
[29:54] of you know commercial uh sales you have
to have. [snorts] Um now again that
[29:58] doesn't mean you have to sell them all
on site. You could be selling to another
[30:00] farm. You you know breed livestock and
you sell them to other farms. So that is
[30:05] a specific thing that it gets uh the
soil district soil water conservation
[30:09] district creates your soil group
worksheet which then is what your um a
[30:14] assessment which is actually an
exemption. It's a reduction on your
[30:17] taxes is based upon u but again there is
a monetary threshold to get into the a
[30:22] district. There's not a monetary
threshold. Again we said it could be a
[30:25] vacant parcel of land. Putnham County
chooses not to do that. Putnham County
[30:29] wants to see that you are a you're
moving to a farm even if you're in your
[30:33] beginning phases that you have a plan.
Again, not necessary, but that's what
[30:37] Putnham County does. And it keeps it to
its very much just farms. So, totally
[30:42] different programs. And again, half the
people that even get into the A district
[30:45] don't even know what an a assessment is.
Um, so the A district gives farmers also
[30:50] a resource where I can go pull up the A
district list and this is who we're
[30:54] going to reach out to for, you know,
conservation, for technical assistance,
[30:57] for things like that. It's an easy grab
as a data point. Find every farm in the
[31:01] county. I mean, good luck,
>> you know. Um, so there are benefits to
[31:06] it in that different way and it also
impacts funding from the state. So the
[31:10] more farms that you know we enroll in an
agriculture environment management
[31:13] program. Again I pick a district parcels
first because I know that they're there
[31:18] then we go down the list. But that also
impacts state funding for conservation
[31:21] for environmental concerns. You know
everybody has concerns about you know
[31:24] agricultural practices and runoff and
things like that. And that's why there's
[31:27] groups like the district that's why
there's groups like uh east of Hudson
[31:30] watershed a council um funded by D to
make sure those things are mitigated and
[31:36] they're done in a way where it's not
regulatory. Uh so wonder district is not
[31:39] a regulatory body um and neither is
whack. It is because it is easier to
[31:44] incentivize uh cooperation than it is to
penalize it. Um that was the the purpose
[31:50] of our two bodies. And then again the a
board is just advisory. So when they
[31:53] don't answer you it's not cuz they don't
want to. Um but there's you know they
[31:58] are volunteers appointed to just be
advisory.
[32:02] » Peter did you thank you for coming
answering our questions.
[32:04] » Yes. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Peter, did you have a
[32:09] » Oh, okay.
[32:13] » And if anyone wants to make comment,
there's the the other three of you.
[32:17] » He's here every time that I [laughter]
feel so bad.
[32:21] » Uh, I'm Peter Bell. I'm the zoning
enforcement officer.
[32:25] » I rate the tickets.
>> Oh, good for you. [laughter]
[32:28] » So, here is my question. Is there a
procedure or could we put together a
[32:34] procedure for the zoning officer in our
town to email you, call you,
[32:42] show you something that's happening
within an a district property and get
[32:48] your opinion as to whether or not that
is an a district event.
[32:55] » What I would say is uh I would never
win. Yes, you can email us and we will
[33:00] get you the answer from the appropriate
authority and then provide it to you.
[33:04] Like we can do that so you're not having
to send extra emails. We have no problem
[33:07] doing that.
>> All right. The reason being is cuz if I
[33:10] go directly to a violation or a ticket,
>> then it's between the town and
[33:15] » the farmer.
>> Yep.
[33:16] » If I can get an opinion from you
>> saying, "Okay, listen. I've already gone
[33:21] to the egg board,
>> gotten their opinion, and this is what
[33:26] you're doing wrong." And you can't do
this.
[33:29] » Yeah, you could reach out to the soil
and water district or you could reach
[33:32] out directly. I can provide the contact
information for the person at Agon
[33:35] Markets who will off the cuff on a phone
call tell you um you know a generalized
[33:40] opinion. I can't tell you the amount of
times that I will call up and I go,
[33:43] "Hey, here's what's going on. What do
you think?" And they're like, "Needs to
[33:46] ripen." I hate that phrase. I hate that
phrase because then none of us know what
[33:50] we're doing until it ripens where
everybody's mad, right?
[33:52] » Um but it is something that I have
learned how to navigate through. Let it
[33:57] ripen to what will it ripen to? Um, so
we're happy to do that.
[34:01] » Okay. Because I I haven't even discussed
this with the board or my boss,
[34:06] » but it would make it a lot easier if I
knew that I'm going in by with strength.
[34:11] » Yeah.
>> Rather than fight for no reason. Yeah.
[34:14] » Correct.
>> It does make me nervous and we we could
[34:18] talk about that. Um, but everything I've
read, all the discussions that we've had
[34:23] and appreciate the cander and everything
has been they have no protections. So I
[34:28] think we need to enforce say that
>> what in black and white there.
[34:32] » No can everything could potentially go
to mediation.
[34:36] » Everything can go to mediation 100%. But
there's no automatic protections
[34:41] » and and thus I'm wrong and then we so we
need to enforce that. They get an NOV
[34:45] and they come and say, "Hey, we're
allowed to do this because XYZ." Then we
[34:49] assess it at that point. But I don't
think that we can drive down the road
[34:53] and say, "Oh, is this property in here?"
Because we know there's unless I'm
[34:57] unless I've read this wrong. It says,
um, there's no automatic protections.
[35:02] Agricultural inclusion can limit a
municipalities to ability to force local
[35:07] laws and regulations. Um, but there's no
automatic approvals. I don't think we
[35:13] could take that in consideration if
we're writing a violation.
[35:15] » What I'm trying to say is if somebody's
putting up a fence,
[35:18] » yep,
>> they need to get a permit.
[35:20] » Yeah.
>> If somebody is putting up a barn on an
[35:23] egg district, they do not need a permit.
>> Am I correct?
[35:27] » Oo, don't quote me this. What I tell
everyone is you go to your building
[35:30] department and you find out. Now, there
are certain allowances [clears throat]
[35:32] in fire and safety code if
people if you're putting up a shed on
[35:38] your property, we require a permit for
it.
[35:42] » Right?
>> What I'm saying is if there is something
[35:45] that is going on in a farm that we
consider not necessarily farmbbased.
[35:54] That's what I need an opinion on.
>> Yeah. Again, my my thought is people get
[35:59] scared of the word violation. All it is
is a letter that says, "Hey, we think
[36:03] you're not in compliance with this code.
Get 30 days." Right?
[36:05] » Well, I think they get really mad, too.
>> Well, you know, so that's up to you guys
[36:09] to govern your time as you see fit.
>> But it's a it's it's like, "Hey, 30
[36:14] days." And and that person can call and
then there's a documentation of it and
[36:17] say, "Hey, this is I I can do this
because of X Y and Z." Or you call the A
[36:21] board, reach out to the A board, and
they give some communication.
[36:25] » Don't reach out to the eye board. They
will never give you
[36:27] » soil and water.
>> Yes. Um, but then we have a paper trail.
[36:31] So when you know when you're gone or I'm
gone and the neighbor moves and they
[36:34] say, "Hey, what's going on here?" you
foil it and say, "Oh, this this was
[36:38] already addressed." And they're allowed
to do it. Um, but we could talk about
[36:41] the process. And I'm not trying to like
hurt farms at all, but we get
[36:45] complaints. How do we treat it? And what
I've learned now is we treat it the way
[36:50] we would any other property, but that
property owner gets the benefit of
[36:55] having resources to support them for
free.
[36:58] Yeah,
>> entirely up to you guys [clears throat]
[37:00] as a town board as elected people that
deal with all the complaints all the
[37:03] time. Um, in my experience is just uh
headed off with the past before you get
[37:09] to larger things. Everybody's more mad
and everybody's cranky and everybody's
[37:13] fighting and writing Facebook posts and
all that stuff. Yeah.
[37:16] » Right. Like I'm just here to say if you
would like a resource, if you would like
[37:19] a resource, anybody wants a resource and
wants an informal phone call and says,
[37:22] "Hey,
>> is this legit? Is it not legit?" I'm
[37:25] 100% going to say, "Let me make a call."
I'm never going to give you an answer
[37:28] right off the bat unless it's something
wild, right? And I know it's completely
[37:32] nothing to do with farming, which you
know, then he would know and he wouldn't
[37:35] call, right? Um, so the resources there,
if you want it, you guys choose to do
[37:39] what you want. We've just found again
speaking to farmers, they get violation.
[37:43] Regular landowner gets a violation.
They're like panic. I'm going to prison,
[37:46] you know, and they're worried about it.
>> Um, so if there's any way, again, you
[37:50] can reach out before it gets to a formal
305A. can ask for an opinion in writing.
[37:55] So, you can put in your foil record, you
could write an email, you can make a
[37:59] phone call, or if you want to do none of
the above, we're you're happy to call us
[38:02] and we're okay with that.
>> Can I just ask a couple more questions?
[38:05] I'm sorry. Um,
>> sure. I'm so sorry. That guy in the
[38:08] back, I never remember your name.
>> Scott loves sits here for hours. He's
[38:13] like, it's going to be an hour. So, you
>> got a question. [laughter]
[38:16] » You if you guys want to ask a question,
we're trying to do that more. So, but
[38:20] » you could choose to leave.
>> I'm fine. No. [laughter] This is short.
[38:25] » Uh, couple questions I did have. Um, so
the legislature, we have to reach out to
[38:29] them to ask for mailings similar fashion
when we have a zoning board application
[38:34] where that applicant has to tell his
neighbors, "This is what I'm doing."
[38:38] We'd love to see uh the applicants into
the act district do that, but that's
[38:43] something that we could push on the
legislature. Has nothing to do with you
[38:46] guys. So I want to
>> and that went back and forth with
[38:49] legislative council already
>> and a markets council but God bless you
[38:52] do anything you would like.
>> I would love to see that happen. I don't
[38:54] know why it hasn't happened yet and
>> and I was on the legislature for 12
[38:58] years but it it never got to this point
until just recently.
[39:02] » I know
>> it just the last few years it's it just
[39:04] got heated. But one of the things that
used to always happen on the legislature
[39:08] and I always assumed it was a rule
because that's what I was told but I
[39:12] don't think it was is if a property has
outstanding violations or an open permit
[39:18] that couldn't go into the a district but
that was never a rule apparently
[39:22] » because it's not there there was a
long-standing and I from my
[39:25] understanding of what I've been told it
was it was a mechanism that was used to
[39:29] uh prohibit really bad actors back in
the day. Um I mean kind of a silly thing
[39:34] to do cuz you could just you know use
any of the other reasons uh of why that
[39:38] was a not great agricultural parcel. Uh
but they chose that that is something
[39:43] that you know the state has even gone on
to be like it's a little overburdensome
[39:46] where again if it's something completely
unrelated so we kept in there where if
[39:49] it's environmental degradation if it is
um you know something that's a
[39:53] long-standing administrative thing say
you didn't close at a permit on your
[39:57] your back stair or you know the building
inspector hadn't come out and done
[40:00] something it can't be a prohibitor but
it is taken into consideration. Um, so
[40:06] it's not to say you can do anything you
want, do whatever, but if the the A
[40:10] district isn't a change of use,
>> it's literally giving a um, you know,
[40:14] supportive county and state program to a
parcel. So that's why, you know, to my
[40:18] understanding, it was you're not
changing a use, you're not going for
[40:22] building permit because if you go for
building permit, you have open stuff,
[40:24] you can't get one, right?
>> There has been such a convolution on
[40:28] planning, site plan approval, variances,
things like that. And that is not the A
[40:32] district. the act district. It's just
you get some extra help maybe sometimes.
[40:37] Um
>> I always looked at it as you can't sell
[40:40] the property because you know you
haven't
[40:42] » that's a change of ownership.
>> That's a change of ownership. But I kind
[40:45] of feel like this is well
>> and that was the thing. It was change of
[40:47] use, change of ownership. This was none
of the above. Um but that and I get that
[40:51] that abrupt change would be like whoa.
Now it said if there was something that
[40:54] was 30 days prior that was something
that was environmental or things like
[40:57] that cuz that's why I think in the
beginning they originally put it in.
[40:59] There was lots of dumping and just crazy
stuff back in the day cuz nobody knew
[41:03] what the act district was.
>> Okay. Um and the last question very
[41:07] vague agro tourism
>> h completely
[41:10] » that is very uh very vague question. It
really depends. Um that is a very very
[41:15] nuanced thing. Um again agon markets uh
specifically and that's why they are
[41:20] your resource. We could be a resource to
go to them. It is literally case- by
[41:24] case basis. Like if you breed livestock
and you're uh socializing animals and
[41:30] that is part of what you do in order to
sell them, that is something that is
[41:34] protected. If you're just doing it for,
you know, hahas and there's different
[41:38] things and it's not really your farm
products. It's not necessary to your
[41:41] agricultural business. Different.
>> Okay.
[41:45] » I have one more question. I am so sorry.
>> No, you're good. I'm going to give you a
[41:49] a hypothetical.
>> Oh, good.
[41:52] I'm going to try I'm going to try not to
be specific, but I'm I'm more concerned
[41:56] about neighboring residents and their
protection. Um I understand all you know
[42:02] there's a shade of gray here, right? You
know, we're not going to give a a
[42:06] violation to somebody who's farming at
5:00 a.m. because it violates, you know,
[42:11] a noise code or whatever. Um,
if I want to put a shed for my animal or
[42:19] my animals right on my neighbor's
property line or right next to my
[42:23] neighbor's property line and that say
hypothetical Peter fits
[42:29] the a district rules or whatever,
>> how much protection does that neighbor
[42:36] have? that resident,
>> do they get to speak in the 305A review
[42:42] or do they have any
>> Yeah.
[42:45] » protections? Absolutely. Or if they were
to go to this, do can we encourage them
[42:51] to
>> be vocal?
[42:52] » They will be involved. So, if there's a
305 review, let's say on sound, I'm just
[42:56] going to say sound. I'm not going to
dedicate.
[42:58] » I'm speaking pure hypothetical.
hypothetically on sound. Um what would
[43:02] happen is then they would talk to the
land owner they would talk to uh the
[43:06] town board they would talk to any
neighbors who had those complaints
[43:08] » express concerns
>> and then they will take the full-fledged
[43:11] they will go out on site and say hey
what's going on honestly with setbacks
[43:15] and things like that I think he knows it
and there's certain things um but
[43:19] » again I think 305A is there right and
it's there for a properties you farms
[43:23] aren't in the district I'm sure he
complains about those right so I think I
[43:27] mean the better practice that I try to
you know go by every day be a better
[43:31] neighbor. um where you know to his point
is if you say hey this is something that
[43:36] has come up is there a way we can kind
of work together can you do something a
[43:39] little different maybe you know don't do
this just because they the actists you
[43:43] know with tractors let's say at certain
hours of the morning I guarantee you if
[43:47] you kindly go talk to a farmer you send
this nice man and say hey neighbors are
[43:51] coming mad can you start a little bit
later they're probably not going to give
[43:53] you a hard time you send them a
violation in the mail they're probably
[43:55] going to get for an attitude um so again
like there are there are protections for
[44:00] everybody but it's it's giving that
balance lands. So you can still survive
[44:06] in a a county that's made of rock,
frankly, right? Um so it's already hard
[44:10] for agriculture, but it gives them an
ability to, you know, sustain when there
[44:14] is uh surrounding pressures and
development, which I mean is is us.
[44:18] We're right outside of Westchester. It's
creeping in. Um so keeping that open
[44:21] space and open land, but not with a
disregard for neighbors. So 305A would
[44:25] include neighbors.
>> Okay.
[44:26] » Um everybody's got
>> want to make sure that they do have some
[44:29] protection and that they do have a say.
Yeah, because if it's somebody who's
[44:32] just like just flagrantly just being a
rude person, they're not going to go,
[44:36] "Oh, yeah, because you're a farm, you
get to do it." They're like, "All right,
[44:39] can you be more reasonable?" And they're
like, "Okay." And they go to the town,
[44:41] "Can you be more reasonable?" They go to
the neighbor and suddenly everybody's
[44:46] fine. Um there's only 11 times in all of
a district history that a markets issued
[44:51] an order because nobody would work
together. And that's, you know, since
[44:54] the 90s, so it's a good track record, I
think.
[44:57] » Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much. Scott, did you have a
[45:00] question?
>> I got one more question.
[45:02] » Oh jeez, I'm so sorry. She's never
coming back. [laughter]
[45:07] » 2 hours.
>> Is there any difference in Agon Markets
[45:13] and in your organization
if it's a residential if it's a farm in
[45:19] a residential area zoning
>> or commercial zoning?
[45:25] » Uh on practice for us, we don't look at
zoning. You don't you don't care which
[45:30] one it is because with the town we have
different zoning codes and different
[45:37] um town codes for a residential district
than we do for commercial district.
[45:43] » I know like in certain towns there's
like a residential R4 zoning that
[45:46] includes farming, right? Um and it
includes small and large farms. So your
[45:50] your zoning still applies. I mean if
somebody goes to buy a parcel I would
[45:54] hope when they want to start a farm
they're like let me make sure I can this
[45:57] year. Well, it's more of a case of I
feel in my opinion that a farm in a
[46:04] commercial zone can do more things than
a farm in a residential zone.
[46:08] » Catch 22 though because a commercial
zone is generally somewhere where it
[46:12] isn't vast open swamps of open land,
right? And that's that's where the
[46:16] zoning thing kind of gets confusing
where it's you do your zoning to have
[46:20] uniformity and to have where it's not
just chaos like industrial building here
[46:24] and then you know tiny things there. It
is a commercial, you know, operation,
[46:29] but it's not, you wouldn't want it in
the middle of, you know, the city of
[46:32] White Plains, you know, in the middle of
the downtown. You want it in a more
[46:36] residential, suburban, urban zoning, but
your zoning is your zoning. Okay.
[46:39] » Um, and again, I think that grant I'll
definitely send you guys the
[46:42] information. It's a grant. You could do
it and then you can say, "Well, I don't
[46:46] agree with it." Throw it in the garbage.
Are you saying that um like it would be
[46:50] in our best interest to uh get this
grant, use it to adjust our code, put
[46:56] some provisions specific to farming that
are reasonable.
[46:59] » Adjust your code, but make it so that
you're not having a bunch of 305A
[47:02] reviews. You can kind of go through that
now and go, what are you guys
[47:05] comfortable with? What are you not? And
that way he doesn't have to call me as
[47:09] much. No offense, you can. Um, but
you're kind of heading off at the past
[47:13] and then you know right then when you go
through your whole zoning code, this is
[47:17] where we're going to get push back in an
a district parcel from the state and
[47:20] this is why.
>> Yeah. I'm wondering if if that's a good
[47:23] practice so we could say, hey, you can
farm and do these things, but you can't
[47:27] do these things. So it overall it's less
restrictive and there's better um
[47:32] » Yeah.
>> Yeah.
[47:35] » more teeth in certain things. Yeah.
>> But anyway, we can
[47:38] » Okay.
>> So, I'll definitely I'll send you guys
[47:40] the information on that because that is
something that no towns know about. Um I
[47:45] told PT Valley last year uh their new
town supervisor is going to be, you
[47:48] know, moving forward with that and the
grant is a grant. It's I think the match
[47:50] is in kind services. So, um something
that's super easy.
[47:54] » Thank you.
[47:59] » Yeah, it's been two or three years. I
remember bumping into her and I think it
[48:02] was Town of Patterson. She was there
with the farm. you were representing
[48:05] them when this first came up and that
was the very first time I heard about a
[48:08] districts.
>> Long way to go, huh?
[48:10] » Exactly. You're you're a prize has been
incredible, shall we say? Um I've been
[48:15] county meetings. I could just say this
is the best definition of agis I've ever
[48:19] heard anywhere.
>> Thank you.
[48:21] » So thank you for that. I mean the
clarification here and I think that farm
[48:25] at the time is their main reason was
going district was that's what Cornell
[48:28] told them to do.
>> Literally USDA.
[48:30] » They came up here learned to farm.
Cornell said hey this is how you farm.
[48:33] this is what you do and this is what you
do next. So they went to the a district
[48:36] and next thing you know they're standing
in front of the town of Patterson
[48:38] fighting with the board on a district.
So that's thank you for the information.
[48:44] It was nice.
>> Yeah. Second that this is you know lots
[48:46] of emails back and forth. It's very nice
for you to come and
[48:50] » No problem.
>> Provide some more clarity I think.
[48:53] » Am I [laughter]
kidding? Um Lynn Ehart, thank you for
[48:58] letting us ask. I only have one and I
think it'll be quick. is next year.
[49:03] » No, it's not. [laughter]
I answer those in my own head at home
[49:07] all the time. Um, next year is the full
review of all the districts. Can you
[49:12] explain how that works, please?
>> Oh god, I can explain how it is supposed
[49:17] to work. Um, I can explain uh 8 years
ago was the last time it happened. And
[49:21] so, you know, we'll see. Um the way that
Agon markets we just had a training in
[49:26] March where we're going to do more um
we're going to do some during the day
[49:29] and some in the evening so that
residents and people can come if they
[49:32] want to. Um the 8-year review is really
looking at um because it's the same
[49:36] thing that the two basic criteria is it
does it um add to the viability of
[49:39] agriculture in the county and is it in
the best in the public interest of the
[49:42] county. Those are the two main things to
get into the district. That's why it's
[49:46] so open and big. Putnham County has
narrowed it to farms. Um it is a review
[49:50] to see what parcels have turned into
non-farmms, right? because there's no
[49:55] reason to have let's say something that
used to be a farm today is now uh you
[50:00] know fivetory building uh in a you know
commercial zoning area like then you
[50:04] wouldn't need that in um so the way that
the a board has discussed it the way it
[50:08] has been done all years in the past for
all of the time since 2003 was a mailing
[50:14] um a mailing or contact goes out to the
a uh district uh parcels saying if you
[50:20] would like to be removed um please let
us know and then the a ward along with
[50:25] planning um and I think soil and water
will be doing that as well this year.
[50:28] Looks at kind of aerials and goes is
this still a farm is it not a farm and
[50:31] reaches out to land owners from there.
It is not a we go picking them all out.
[50:35] Um if you see any agon markets training
they show you this like little slope
[50:39] that has a tractor and it's just driving
downhill because the loss of farming and
[50:44] farmland in New York State is wild. I
mean it's more expensive to do
[50:48] everything here every day. Imagine you
have to put diesel in all of your
[50:51] tractors and everything else. It's just
it's abhorrent. Um, so it's not a
[50:55] pulling out of properties, but it's
looking at the properties. Uh, I think
[50:58] there's two years ago there's 157. I
want to say there's about 180 parcels in
[51:02] the district right now roughly. Do not
quote me on that exact number, but um,
[51:06] that is specifically going through and
saying um, you know, Tilly Foster Farm
[51:11] is in the A district. I always thought
that was a little bit redundant, but
[51:13] great. You know, the county doesn't need
protection from itself. Um, but looking
[51:17] at the different parcels and again some
of them are open space, some of them
[51:20] are, you know, some religious
institutions where it's it's open space
[51:23] and it protects it and I think that's
fine. They're never going to have a
[51:25] farming practice to do a 305A review on.
So, it really doesn't matter. Um, but
[51:30] again, it helps some state funding, but
it is uh a mailing. This is the way it's
[51:34] been done. So, a mailing has gone out to
all the parcels saying if you'd like to
[51:37] be removed, let us know. Um, and if
there's anything that is like
[51:40] egregiously not a farm or totally
industrially developed, that would be,
[51:43] you know, an indiv individual cont. But
you're not asking them to go back and
[51:46] reapply at all. God, that would be
>> So it's just if you want to be removed,
[51:50] send us a letter.
>> And there'll be a standard a inclusion
[51:52] process next year. So people can apply
next year, but it's when every years you
[51:56] just have to review and say, is this
still doing what the program intended in
[52:00] aiding in agriculture
>> and you guys could go in there if the
[52:03] person is non-compliant, doesn't respond
to you, and is not operating the farm
[52:07] anymore, you can pull them out.
>> Yeah. And that again, we write the
[52:10] recommendations to the legislature.
Sometimes the legislature listens.
[52:14] Sometimes they don't. Uh I do this every
meeting anyways. So, you know, we will
[52:20] give them the opinion. The board takes a
vote. We go through that. So, it is
[52:23] going to be a burdensome year next year.
Uh we're going to have to start pretty
[52:26] soon on on collecting all that data. But
it is really again because it's a
[52:29] voluntary program. It's a supportive
program. It's not really anything that's
[52:33] changing any use or changing ownership.
So, a lot of times if there's
[52:36] subdivisions, it's just the maps. Uh
some, you know, farms will subdivide a
[52:40] parcel, but it's still entirely a farm.
They just do it for generational
[52:44] planning, things like that, and then
it's just tax maps have to be updated.
[52:47] So,
>> another question,
[52:50] » two questions. I'm going to pretend
they're not hypothetical, but maybe. Oh,
[52:52] God. Okay.
>> Um, if if a farm becomes a
[52:58] » Well, one is
do farms if there's any ownership
[53:02] changes, does that impact the uh
designation or whether it's in a
[53:06] district? No.
>> No. So there's the
[53:08] » as long as they're you know they're in
the district that so the a district is
[53:11] based on parcel.
>> Okay.
[53:13] » So parcel number is what's in the
district and then if the ownership
[53:16] changes it still remains
>> and if there's a parcel that's in for
[53:19] three years let's say um in the fourth
year they stop doing something or they
[53:23] start doing things they shouldn't. It's
still tied to that 8-year time period.
[53:27] Nobody gets kicked out in the middle.
>> Nobody gets kicked out. And again, it's
[53:30] I would say it'd be very difficult to
justify cuz again, the county decides
[53:34] what it decides, right? And if it's
like, okay, I want to rip this parcel
[53:37] out, they're not farming enough. You
don't have to be a farm to be in the
[53:40] district. The big change of use is where
I would say that there may be parcels
[53:44] that get pulled out. Um, again, if
you're transitioning land to, you know,
[53:48] same thing kind of with a value
assessments, if you have, you know, a
[53:53] farm and you do farming operation and
all of a sudden you just build
[53:56] everything, there's concrete everywhere.
You've literally ruined the agriculture
[53:59] land. So, it has no value there anymore.
That's an instance I would say that gets
[54:02] pulled out. But if it's less farming or
whatever, again, that's for the county
[54:06] legislature to decide, but there's going
to be 180 plus parcels.
[54:11] I do not see anyone doing fine tooth
comb. Um, again, because if they're
[54:15] problematic parcels, maybe, you know,
um, that if, you know, the county's
[54:18] heard about for all time, but I don't
think it's anything, um, there was a
[54:23] question of like, well, can we pull
people out? It's like, well, in theory,
[54:26] you could, but you have to justify that.
the county has to justify why they're
[54:29] ripping that parcel out and then that'll
be a fight for the county if it's, you
[54:32] know, you're just, you have less
chickens today than you did five years
[54:35] ago. Um, so
>> that's how it worked in the past. Um,
[54:40] we'll see.
>> Thank you for coming out.
[54:42] » You had one more or no, you had another
hypothetical.
[54:44] » Come back in two weeks.
>> I got them both. Kick out and uh
[54:48] ownership.
>> Perfect. Thank you guys so much. Run
[54:50] while you can. Thank you. Okay.
[laughter]
[54:53] » Thank you.
>> Okay. Uh, I'll make a motion to go into
[54:57] our regular meeting. Do I have a second?
>> Second.
[54:59] » All in favor?
>> I.
[55:01] » Okay. Item number one on our uh regular
meeting is a a motion to set a public
[55:07] hearing for Thursday, September 17, 2026
to amend town code chapter 126 taxation
[55:14] for volunteer firefighters and am
workers and exemption for unmarried
[55:20] surviving spouses. I'll make that
motion. Do I have a second?
[55:24] » Second. All in favor?
>> I.
[55:26] » Thank you. Uh number two is a motion to
set a public hearing for Thursday,
[55:30] October 1st, 2026 to consider a proposal
of local law amending chapter 138 zoning
[55:37] article
uh 19 floating zoning district section
[55:44] 138-104.
this multif family workforce housing
[55:49] district to implement provisions of the
New York State Division of Human Rights
[55:55] uh pre complaint settlement agreement.
I'll make that motion. Do I have a
[56:00] second?
>> Second.
[56:01] » All in favor?
>> I.
[56:04] » Thank you.
>> Good job with your Roman numerals.
[56:06] » Yeah, took [laughter] me a second there.
Right. 19.
[56:08] » Way back.
>> Yeah. Um Okay. Number three, uh is a
[56:13] resolution authorizing the supervisor to
sign a settlement agreement with New
[56:17] York State Division of Human Rights
nullifying the multifamily workforce
[56:22] housing district. So, uh with that, I'd
like to uh make make a motion resolve
[56:29] that the town board of the town of
Southeast is hereby accepts uh the
[56:33] provisions of the pre-complaint
resolution agreement with New York State
[56:37] Division of Human Rights. the agreement
and authorizes the town supervisor to
[56:42] execute implement such agreement forth
with I'll make that motion.
[56:48] » Second.
>> Thank you. All in favor? I
[56:55] » uh item number four on our agenda uh is
a motion to authorize the supervisor
[57:02] um to sign a memorandum of understanding
with Putinham County regarding the
[57:07] conveyance of certain inrem property to
to the town adjacent to the highway
[57:12] department on Palmer Road. So I'll make
this motion uh be it resolved that the
[57:18] town board of the town of southeast is
hereby authorized authorizes the
[57:23] supervisor to execute a memorandum of
understanding with county of Putinham
[57:28] regarding the proposed conveyance to the
town of a portion of a certain property
[57:32] known generally as 61
View Avenue and 63 Old View Avenue
[57:38] identified by a tax map number 67.12-2.
2-28 and 67.12-1-28
[57:50] respectfully. Um,
uh, which properties was previously
[57:55] obtained by the county in REM and
further resolved that the MOU is fully
[58:02] executed. The supervisor is authorized
to engage Terry Bergenhoff Collins
[58:09] licensed land surveyors for the purpose
of preparing the necessary subdivision
[58:14] lot line adjustment maps uh necessary to
affect the completion of conveyance.
[58:21] » Uh I'll
>> I'll make that motion.
[58:24] » Second for discussion. I'll be
abstaining on this vote. I have a family
[58:27] member whose property abuts this
property. Um so if we could do a roll
[58:31] call vote. Thank you. Any other
discussion on the matter?
[58:35] So, uh, put I'll put it to a roll call
vote.
[58:38] » Councilman Cypress,
>> yes.
[58:40] » Councilman Larka,
>> Councilwoman Lewis,
[58:43] » yes.
>> Councilman Mazada,
[58:45] » yes.
>> Supervisor Castellano,
[58:47] » yes.
>> Thank you. Uh item number five is a
[58:51] resolution to authorize the supervisor
sign a contract with stat locksmith for
[58:56] installation of handicap accessible
self-opening and closing doors and crash
[59:02] bars to certain doors in town hall and
Lake View Manor. I will make that
[59:08] motion. uh resolved that the town board
of the town of Southeast accepts the
[59:12] proposal of Stat Locksmith of 144 South
Parliament Road in Lraange, New York. Uh
[59:20] zip code is 12540.
uh to install a handicap automated
[59:27] closure device, replacement doors, push
bars, and associated hardware specific
[59:32] for the doors in Town Hall and Lake View
Manor, and hereby authorizes the
[59:36] supervisor to execute a contract with
Stat Locksmith for such services in
[59:42] accordance to with the proposals dated
July 1st, 2026 and July 7, 2026 for a
[59:48] total contract price not to exceed
$19,645.
[59:53] $5.
Uh be it resolved that the resolution
[59:56] take effect immediately. I'll make that
motion. Second. Second.
[1:00:00] » Thank you. All in favor?
>> I.
[1:00:03] » Great. Now we're at other uh new
business. Any board member have any new
[1:00:09] business they want to
>> works?
[1:00:14] Good. Uh being that there is none
recognition of public for public
[1:00:18] comment. Please come forward.
[1:00:34] Hi, thanks again and thanks for opening
up the um a districts to some questions.
[1:00:39] I think that was really helpful. So,
thank you. Um I have a question though
[1:00:44] on the on resolution number three. Was
there a financial settlement with that?
[1:00:50] When you say financial settlement, there
was there's no ex no expense of the town
[1:00:54] other than uh members of the planning
board and the town board are going to
[1:00:59] have to take a course on on the uh uh
uh workings of the human rights law.
[1:01:06] Okay. I'm annoyed because the entire way
through this process I was on the
[1:01:13] planning board. I still am. And I said
repeatedly that workforce housing in my
[1:01:18] opinion was discriminatory and it was
repeatedly ignored by everyone. And I
[1:01:24] just want to say I mean of course I'll
take the course gladly and I know I'll
[1:01:27] learn a lot that I don't know in it but
it's frustrating to me. Um
[1:01:33] it's very frustrating to me because I
couldn't see having been a realer years
[1:01:36] ago how it wouldn't be considered
discriminatory.
[1:01:40] Well, as as it was explained to me in
the discussions, uh it wasn't um de
[1:01:46] facto discriminatory. It was an
application that was discriminator
[1:01:50] discriminatory because it uh because it
specifically said it would pri
[1:01:56] prioritize persons that were in certain
industries locally. and the the state
[1:02:03] division uh and their analysts said that
if if it had been uh not limited to
[1:02:09] pieces persons in the town of Southeast,
it wouldn't have been discriminatory. So
[1:02:13] you can um so for example the new if the
new um garden street or whatever does
[1:02:20] want to use workforce housing in there
to a degree or anyone wants to in town
[1:02:25] as long as it's just just based what
you're telling me is if someone's a
[1:02:28] firefighter or someone's a teacher that
is all legal as long
[1:02:33] » street wouldn't have any this wouldn't
have any our zoning not the vill's
[1:02:36] zoning
>> right
[1:02:37] » why did you bring up garden street
[laughter]
[1:02:41] » just so everyone knows
But it was well in the same developer.
[1:02:44] So I'm just kidding.
>> Of course. I know. But no, but I want to
[1:02:49] be clear on this then. So if something's
in front of the planning board and they
[1:02:53] want workforce housing, and nothing is
right now, but if if it came in front of
[1:02:57] us, we if long as they say we want, oh,
maybe farmers, but we want uh teachers
[1:03:03] and um you know, and the list goes on.
as I understand it, if it's more broadly
[1:03:10] um advertised and open for not for
because of the the regional disparities
[1:03:17] of wealth is really the way it was
explained to me. Uh that is that
[1:03:23] somebody who was uh considered um uh a
[1:03:31] somebody who was who was a part of a
protected class from outside of this
[1:03:37] region could not have taken advantage of
those priorities.
[1:03:43] And it's really the the whole purpose of
of the human rights law and the and the
[1:03:48] housing protections is to protect those
that are of protected classes and
[1:03:55] teachers aren't a protected class. Um
>> none of the were any firefighters?
[1:04:01] » No, none of those are protected classes.
And and
[1:04:03] » okay,
>> and the reason why I think the reason
[1:04:07] that the division of human rights uh
took issue with this and they they they
[1:04:13] were very I mean they were not about to
file a uh a formal uh litigation
[1:04:19] complaint. they they worked with the uh
the Barrett Hill people and and one of
[1:04:26] the parties to this settlement is
Barrett Hill's um uh agent agency that
[1:04:33] they use to actually run the lotteryies
for for the uh priority housing which is
[1:04:39] you would think that agency would be
more um aware of of uh how the
[1:04:46] application of these of these uh
specific housing rights laws
[1:04:50] uh apply but they are you know they are
part of this as well because they were
[1:04:56] the ones uh running the lotteryies right
and uh
[1:05:00] » so will Barrett Hill now I guess I'm
still seeing it for me there's a
[1:05:04] disconnect and I apologize but for me
now at Barrett Hill they still have the
[1:05:09] 10% that are um are more affordable okay
>> so is there still a requirement of any
[1:05:17] sort on that 10% other than income is my
question.
[1:05:21] » Um I guess there's a discussion
regarding we could still have uh 55 and
[1:05:28] older provided they get a waiver from
the division.
[1:05:32] » Okay. So
>> and they do that all the time. So they
[1:05:35] they've indicated that they will get
that waiver.
[1:05:38] » Okay. So but that would be the only
exception. No more veterans,
[1:05:43] firefighters. You can't have a you can't
have a priority for the for them
[1:05:47] » anybody else
>> because it would be discriminating to
[1:05:50] those who are outside the region.
>> So anyone who comes back in front of us
[1:05:54] with workforce housing.
>> No.
[1:05:56] » Well, if actually in the agenda that was
circulated there is there is a copy of
[1:06:01] the amendments to that section of the
law.
[1:06:03] » Right. That's what number it's already
been vetted by the division and they're
[1:06:08] they're good. Okay.
>> Okay. I think I get it. Thank you all.
[1:06:12] Thank you.
>> Thanks Lyn.
[1:06:30] Scott Seymtown Southeast. I'm also here
from the Brewster Board of Education.
[1:06:35] Um, as you've probably seen our yellow
buses on the road that schools are now
[1:06:38] open, so be careful when [snorts] you're
driving. Um, day two down. Hopefully
[1:06:44] good. You know, we've had our minor
disaster for the year. So, hopefully
[1:06:47] we're predestined and then we're good
from now on. Um, most of the capital
[1:06:52] projects are resolved. There's some
minor things that are still going on.
[1:06:55] The cafeterium should be done I believe
October. That's just some internal work.
[1:07:00] A lot of it is related to machinery, uh,
heavy aluminum pieces. I mean, it just
[1:07:05] there's a backlog in construction and uh
the PEK STEM lounge just getting
[1:07:10] equipment in.
>> I saw it. It looks great.
[1:07:12] » I got an early trip in there. Some of
these machines are
[1:07:15] » incredible.
>> I saw it completely by mistake the other
[1:07:18] day, but it was Yeah, it's awesome.
>> Right. I think we're waiting on the u
[1:07:22] the air circulation or the withholding
system that so that it would take out
[1:07:27] any dust through the air, the the zero
pressure room, all that is the only
[1:07:31] pieces left. And of course outside the
sports they're still working on that. Um
[1:07:38] I just wanted to point out that next
week on the 8th there is a
[1:07:44] law enforcement representatives and
regional safety experts. We're having a
[1:07:47] safety forum as we do every year to
point out what's going on in the
[1:07:50] district, things we've done to make the
students and staff safe. And of course
[1:07:54] we invite the general public to all come
or to send any questions resolved around
[1:07:58] that. Um,
and as always, you know, we thank the
[1:08:03] town for what you've done on behalf of
our students. Anything we can do, please
[1:08:06] let us know.
>> Scott, this morning's delay for the
[1:08:09] school remained at 2 hours and not every
Okay.
[1:08:12] » And that, I believe 9:30 last night, a
night cleaner found water on the floor,
[1:08:17] traced it back into a room, went in
there, and then the pipes exploded, and
[1:08:20] then it [laughter] went steadily
downhill from there. But we have, you
[1:08:23] know, great staff in the system and, uh,
a lot of great secondary help. You know,
[1:08:27] they have contracts with certain
providers in the area and they swooped
[1:08:30] in and were working on it all night
long, I think, up until we opened.
[1:08:33] » Great.
>> So, but
[1:08:35] » great job,
>> Scott. I I was waiting for my daughter
[1:08:37] to get off the bus yesterday and I got
the mail and my tax bill was in the mail
[1:08:42] and I opened it and I was like, "Ah."
And then my daughter got off the bus and
[1:08:46] I was like, "How was your day?" She
goes, "10 out of 10."
[1:08:49] » All right, I guess I'll pay this.
[laughter]
[1:08:52] » So, I always have to get in Tony before
the bus tax bills come out. It was it
[1:08:56] was perfect timing. It's [laughter]
going to have been better,
[1:08:59] » right? And and that's what we hope to
see more of. So point of these items and
[1:09:03] anything else, please let us know. I
know I did um speak to Dr. Gosh about
[1:09:07] the project 250 that you know we're
trying to include and so we're trying to
[1:09:12] get involved on that and I don't know if
um for your fireworks, I'm assuming
[1:09:16] you're going to announce that this
weekend. Um if the kids that were
[1:09:20] involved in it prior to the delays are
involved that I don't know. I haven't
[1:09:24] heard but I would hope.
>> They weren't. Perfect.
[1:09:27] » The timelines are tough on these.
>> I think we're going to cancel them
[1:09:29] anyway.
>> Okay, that's [laughter] it.
[1:09:32] » If you would like to join us, just let
us know. We're happy to have
[1:09:36] » Thanks, Scott.
>> All right. Thanks.
[1:09:38] » I'm just kidding. Thanks, Scott. We're
not cancelled. Who knows? Probably.
[1:09:41] » Now you think about the weather.
>> It's probably going to rain.
[1:09:44] » No, actually the weather looks good.
>> Beautiful.
[1:09:47] » Yeah, weather looks beautiful for the
weekend.
[1:09:50] » We said that for Fourth of July, too.
>> Well, it really does now.
[1:09:54] [clears throat] Uh recognition of the
town board, town board comment. [snorts]
[1:09:57] » One announcement. Um Sunday is um we do
an annual Zach attack at the volunteer
[1:10:03] park honoring a um former Brewster
Little League player who uh died way too
[1:10:09] young of leukemia.
>> And uh it's all day at volunteer
[1:10:14] softball games, baseball games, food,
drink. Um it really is a great event.
[1:10:19] » It's a great event.
>> So from a community perspective,
[1:10:22] anyone's invited. Um, and it's um, it's
a great way for the community to come
[1:10:27] together for a truly worthy cause. So,
>> it's great. And just to piggyback off
[1:10:31] that, the varsity Zack Attack game is on
September 18th where they honor honor
[1:10:38] Zach as well.
>> Yeah.
[1:10:40] » Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[1:10:43] » Fireworks.
>> Fireworks.
[1:10:45] » Fireworks.
>> The fireworks are Sunday. Uh, [laughter]
[1:10:49] they're going to go It starts at six
o'clock. They're We're gonna I have to
[1:10:52] reply that later. We're going to shoot
them off as soon as it gets dark. So,
[1:10:54] it'll be earlier this year.
>> The DJ is going to start at 5:00.
[1:10:57] » Five. Yeah. 5 o'clock.
>> Yeah. That's why we were telling you to
[1:11:01] do [laughter] I never mind. 5:00. Uh DJ
starts at 5:00
[1:11:06] » and and rain or shine.
>> Rain or [laughter] shine, it's on. We We
[1:11:11] did uh have the fire commissioner give
us the Okay. The site is ready to go.
[1:11:17] Barring any tragedies, we're going to be
perfect. Uh, no. The weather looks great
[1:11:22] and hopefully the fireworks are going to
go off about 7:30 because it'll be dark
[1:11:25] a little earlier which will be great.
So,
[1:11:28] » and we did double the amount this year.
>> Yeah.
[1:11:30] » Big event. 250th anniversary of the
country.
[1:11:33] » 250 fireworks.
>> No, it's 1,400.
[1:11:36] » It was 700.
>> Actually, this aligns much better for my
[1:11:39] bedtime. I have to say [laughter]
>> in July.
[1:11:44] » So, you put those trucks
up.
[1:11:47] » So much better for me.
>> Yeah. Looking forward to it. It's a
[1:11:50] great event. A lot of lot of discussion
on social media about it. So, we're
[1:11:53] hoping for a big crowd.
>> Anything else?
[1:11:57] » Nope.
>> We've been handing flyers out to all
[1:11:59] anybody coming in to pay their taxes.
So,
[1:12:02] » Oh, thank you.
>> Excellent.
[1:12:03] » That's awesome. All right.
>> I make a motion to go into executive
[1:12:09] session to discuss um contractual and
legal matter.
[1:12:13] » Thank you.
>> Second. All
[1:12:15] » in favor? I
>> Thank you.